The royal baby in numbers

Royalist or republican, it's been impossible to ignore the fact that the Duchess of Cambridge is about to give birth to little Alexandra/Victoria/George/Diana/Paddington/Charlotte* (delete as appropriate).

To mark the arrival, Digital Spy has rounded up some quick number-based facts about the wee sprog we'll one day have on our stamps.

370,000 babies are born every day worldwide. 2,000 will be born in the UK, with just 1 belonging to the Royal Family.

42 public figures had to verify the birth of James II's son in 1688. People apparently doubted that his wife Queen Mary was actually pregnant. I'd love to say we've all moved on from such madness, but Beyoncé probably thinks otherwise.

Prince Harry, currently number 3 in line to the throne, will be busted all the way down to 4 after the birth. Barring some quirky circumstances or an old-fashioned royal skulduggery, his chance of being monarch is likely over.

Royal babies are usually accompanied by a 41-gun salute from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, up from the bog-standard 21-round royal salute because it takes place in (the royal) Green Park. Another 62 rounds will then be fired by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London.

The Duchess of Cambridge is in labor now, for how long - who knows? Prince William's mother Diana was in labor for 16 hours when she had him. Second time round was easier, with Prince Harry arriving after just (just!) 6 hours of pushing.

And with one kiss, the Daily Express wound up its front page editorial planning for the next century

Unless she holds on for another six months, Kate will be 31 years old when she gives birth. Diana was just 21 when she gave birth to Wills, at 21.03 on 21/06/1982. He weighed 7lbs 1.05ozs, just below the British average of 7lb 5oz.

The royal baby will have a minimum of 1 name, as royals - like Madonna and Cher - don't need a surname like us peasants. They will be called "His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess [Name] of Cambridge". Their actual name will be in place of [Name], of course, unless Kate and William get really quirky on us.

The birth will generate an estimated £260 million ($384 million) worldwide in tourism, souvenirs and "birth-related festivities", according to The Daily Telegraph. We don't know how they came to that figure, and I'd have a small bet that they don't either.